Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been reported to Merseyside Police after a video was seen of him seemingly using his mobile phone while driving.
A spokesman for last season’s Champions League finalists said they passed the video, which had circulated on social media, on to police after talking with Salah.
“The club, after discussion with the player, have made Merseyside Police aware of the footage and the circumstances surrounding its capture,” said the spokesman cited on the BBC. We have spoken to the player also and will deal with any follow-up internally. Neither the club or player will be making any further comment on this matter.”
Merseyside Police tweeted they had received the footage.
“We have been made aware of a video believed to show a footballer using a mobile phone whilst driving. This has been passed to the relevant department. Thanks for letting us know,” they tweeted on their official account.
Salah, who had a remarkable first season with Liverpool scoring 44 goals in all competitions and opened his account for this campaign with a goal in their opening 4-0 thrashing of West Ham on Sunday, could if found guilty of using his mobile face a fine of up to £1000 ($1300, 1100 euro) and points on his licence.
Last season’s Premier League top scorer Mo Salah was on target again as Liverpool began their campaign with an easy win at home to West Ham United.
The Egyptian gave Juergen Klopp’s side the lead after 19 minutes from Andy Robertson’s precise low cross.
A tweet from the official Merseyside Police account said that they were aware of the footage and that it had been passed onto the “relevant department” for investigation.
The tweet read: “We have been made aware of a video believed to show a footballer using a mobile phone whilst driving. This has been passed to the relevant department. Thanks for letting us know.”
Liverpool also confirmed that they had been made aware of the footage and a spokesman for the club said that they had passed it on to the authorities, with any further disciplinary action set to be dealt with “internally”.
“The club, after discussion with the player, have made Merseyside Police aware of the footage and the circumstances surrounding its capture,” a Liverpool spokesman said.
West Ham’s new manager Manuel Pellegrini gave debuts to five of their 10 close-season signings, but his revamped team rarely threatened Liverpool’s expensive new Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson.
Poor defending cost them a second goal just before the interval, to Sadio Mane, who added a third after 53 minutes from an offside position.
Substitute Daniel Sturridge made it four just seconds after coming on.
Salah’s goal featured an important contribution from new signing Naby Keita, who cost 50 million pounds ($63.84m) from RB Leipzig.
Guinea’s Keita was excellent throughout. Liverpool’s other debutant, Alisson, was much less involved as the London side struggled to make chances.
Their best one followed a lucky bounce off the referee but Marko Arnautovic miscued his shot.